Anthology summary

• The poem “Material” by Ros Barber reflects on the poet’s memories of her mother and the changing nature of motherhood, tradition, and societal values over time. The speaker uses the handkerchief, a symbol of her mother’s era, to explore themes of nostalgia, loss, and generational shifts. The poem contrasts the practical, community-centered life of her mother with the more disposable, fast-paced modern world. Ultimately, it reflects on the speaker’s own role as a mother and the complexities of carrying forward the values and traditions of the past.
• The poem “Look We Have Coming to Dover!” by Daljit Nagra explores the experiences of immigration and cultural identity in Britain. It reflects on the struggles, hopes, and resilience of immigrants as they navigate assimilation, prejudice, and the blending of cultures, using vivid language and satire to challenge traditional notions of British identity
• The poem “From the Journal of a Disappointed Man” by Andrew Motion observes a group of men working on a pier and reflects on themes of masculinity, labor, and detachment. The speaker, an outsider, contrasts his intellectual perspective with the workers’ silent, physical effort, ultimately expressing a sense of existential disappointment and alienation
• The poem “To My Nine-Year-Old Self” by Helen Dunmore is a reflective monologue in which the speaker addresses her younger self. It explores themes of childhood innocence, vitality, and the inevitable passage of time, contrasting the carefree joy of youth with the physical and emotional limitations of adulthood
• The poem “Genetics” by Sinéad Morrissey explores themes of family, identity, and connection through the speaker’s inheritance of physical traits from her parents, who are now separated. It reflects on how genetics serve as a link between them, symbolizing continuity and unity despite division.
• The poem “A Minor Role” by U.A. Fanthorpe explores themes of illness, identity, and societal expectations. The speaker reflects on their experience of playing a supporting role in life, particularly in the context of caregiving or managing illness, and questions the performative nature of everyday interactions and resilience.
• The poem “History” by John Burnside reflects on the impact of global events, particularly the 9/11 attacks, and their interplay with personal experience. It explores themes of humanity, fragility, and the connection between individual lives and larger historical forces, emphasizing the importance of nature and everyday moments in grounding us amidst chaos.
• The poem “Eat Me” by Patience Agbabi explores themes of power, control, and consumption through the lens of a feeder-feedee relationship. It depicts an unhealthy dynamic where one partner’s obsession with feeding dominates the other’s life, ultimately leading to a dark and dramatic act of rebellion
• The poem “The Gun” by Vicki Feaver explores themes of power, violence, and transformation. It examines how the presence of a gun disrupts domestic life, awakening primal instincts and altering relationships with death, nature, and creativity.
• The poem “The Deliverer” by Tishani Doshi addresses themes of gender inequality and cultural practices. It focuses on the abandonment of baby girls in India, contrasting this with Western perspectives, and reflects on issues of violence, displacement, and societal attitudes toward women.
• The poem “Out of the Bag” by Seamus Heaney reflects on childhood memories of a doctor, blending themes of imagination, medicine, and mythology. It explores the transition from innocence to awareness, connecting personal experiences with broader ideas of healing and creation.
• The poem “Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass” by Simon Armitage explores themes of power, aggression, and nature’s resilience. It depicts a battle between a destructive chainsaw and the persistent pampas grass, symbolizing the tension between human dominance and the natural world’s enduring strength.
• The poem “Effects” by Alan Jenkins reflects on loss, memory, and familial relationships as the speaker mourns his late mother. It explores themes of guilt, grief, and the passage of time through intimate details of her life and their relationship.
• The poem “An Easy Passage” by Julia Copus explores the transition from childhood to adulthood. It captures a fleeting moment of a young girl climbing into a house, reflecting themes of youth, freedom, and the inevitability of growing up.
• The poem “Giuseppe” by Roderick Ford examines themes of guilt, morality, and dehumanization through the story of a mermaid being killed during wartime. It reflects on how atrocities are justified and how humanity can be stripped away through language and actions.
• The poem “The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled” by Leontia Flynn reflects on the speaker’s youthful travels and contrasts them with the emotional and relational journeys of adulthood, exploring themes of identity, connection, and the lasting impact of experiences.
• The poem “On Her Blindness” by Adam Thorpe reflects on the speaker’s mother’s experience with blindness, exploring themes of loss, dignity, and the human tendency to mask suffering, while also addressing the emotional impact on family relationships.
• The poem “Please Hold” by Ciaran O’Driscoll critiques modern society’s reliance on automation and bureaucracy, portraying the frustration and dehumanization of navigating a world dominated by robotic systems and impersonal interactions.